“She sells C cells by the sea shore”
“She sells sea shells by the sea shore” is a tongue-twister that has been cited in print since at least 1904. There are several puns on this famous line, such as the woman who sells “C-cell” batteries.
“She sells ‘C’ cells by the sea shore” was posted on the newsgroup alt.penpals.forty-plus-yrs on January 4, 2000.
“She sells c- cells by the c- store” was posted on the newsgroup milw.general on May 12, 2000. “I had a friend who sets up a booth every day to sell a specific type of battery outside of a convenience store. You could say she sells C cells by the C-Store” was posted on Twitter by Bryant on July 19, 2018.
“I know a girl who runs a battery kiosk at the local park. She sells c cells by the seesaw” was posted on Twitter by James Baker on April 10, 2o19. “In the park there’s a woman who sells batteries in the playground. She sells C cells by the seesaw !” was posted on Twitter by Jokerswild on April 12, 2020. “There’s a woman in the park sells batteries. She sells C cells by the seesaw” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on July 21, 2020.
Google Groups: alt.penpals.forty-plus-yrs
JOKE: Girl On The Beach
Isle of Skye
1/4/00
When we lived there, my wife and I used to walk the beach a lot. One summer we noticed a girl who was at the beach pretty much every day. She wasn’t unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing; she would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around furtively, then speak to them. Generally the people would respond negatively and she would wander off, but occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money for something she carried in her bag. My wife and I assumed she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but we didn’t know for sure so we just continued to watch her.
After a couple of weeks my wife said, “Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?”
I hadn’t, and I said so.
Then she said, “Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lay out on the beach. Then we can find out what she’s really doing.”
Well, the plan went off without a hitch and my wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to me and then leave.
I walked up the beach and met her at the road. “
Well? Is she selling drugs?” she asked, excitement pouring out with her voice.
“No, she’s not.” I said, enjoying this probably more than I should have.
“Well? What is it, then? What does she do?” my wife fairly shrieked.
I smirked and said, “She sells ‘C’ cells by the sea shore.”
—Clynch Varnadore.
Google Groups: milw.general
she sells c- cells by the c- store
Bob Simmons
5/12/00
I couldn’t help myself!
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
“Puns of the Weak” 01/05/01
Stan Kegel
1/6/01
(...)
I was working for Radio Shack and was manning a kiosk in the middle of a busy Christmas-time mall. My post was rather devoid of any men being as I was between a lingerie store and a ladies’ clothing outlet. Struck with sudden inspiration I grabbed a pack of batteries and cried out, “He sells “C"cells by the she store!” (Colin Barbon / The International Save the Pun Foundation)
Twitter
Gav “XPD/DemiseNZ”
@DemiseNZ
Battery saleswomen slogan who lives near a beach - she sells C cells by the sea shore
9:06 PM · Jun 13, 2011·TweetDeck
Twitter
Jean-Louis Bontront
@jeanbont
#pun today: My sister opened a battery store on a beach in Hawaii. She sells C cells by the seashore.
8:08 AM · Feb 6, 2013·Hootsuite
Twitter
Ahh! Photography
@AhhPhotography
My sister’s old profession looks for handsome guys with boom boxes at the beach. Yep! She sells C cells by the sea shore.
11:23 PM · May 10, 2013·Twitter Web Client
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/Chanzy94 July 20, 2017
Boomboxes on the beach
Long
A couple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot. One summer they noticed a girl who was at the beach pretty much every day.
She wasn’t unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing. She would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around, then speak to them.
Generally, the people would respond negatively and she would wander off, but occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money for something she carried in her bag. The couple assumed she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but since they didn’t know for sure they just continued to watch her.
After a couple of weeks the wife asked, “Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?” He hadn’t and said so. Then she said, “Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach. Then we can find out what she’s really doing.”
Well, the plan went off without a hitch, and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave. The man walked up the beach and met his wife at the road. “Well, is she selling drugs?” she asked excitedly.”
“No, she’s not.” he said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.
“Well, what is it, then?” his wife fairly shrieked.
The man grinned and said. “Her name is Sally and she’s selling batteries.”
“Batteries?” cried the wife.
“Yes,” he replied. “Sally sells C cells by the Seashore.”
Twitter
Ricky Wells
@DerekEWells
That famous director DeMille deals in large batteries outside gas stations.
You could say Cecil sells C cells by the C-store.
9:40 AM · Jun 2, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Bryant
@evilplasticfork
I had a friend who sets up a booth every day to sell a specific type of battery outside of a convenience store. You could say she sells C cells by the C-Store.
8:58 AM · Jul 19, 2018·TweetDeck
Twitter
James Baker
@JB_MusicComic
I know a girl who runs a battery kiosk at the local park.
She sells c cells by the seesaw….
1:40 PM · Apr 10, 2019·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Stephen Mitchell🎙
@eztephen
I saw a girl running a battery kiosk at the local park. She sells c cells by the seesaw. #DryJoke
6:54 AM · Apr 11, 2019·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Jokerswild
@JokersWildUK
In the park there’s a woman who sells batteries in the playground.
She sells C cells by the seesaw !
3:28 AM · Apr 12, 2020·Twitter for Android
Twitter
The Dad Joke Man
@DadJokeMan
I once met a girl who runs a battery kiosk in our local park…
She sells C cells by the seesaw…
#fridaymorning
3:53 AM · May 8, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/andersonfmly May 30, 2020
Yesterday I met Sally, a young woman who operates a battery kiosk at our local community park.
Sally sells C-cells by the Seesaw.
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/EasyPiece July 21, 2020
There’s a woman in the park sells batteries.
She sells C cells by the seesaw.